Self-inking stamp with plier action



April 5, 1966 R. c. MGRAE ETAL I SELF-INKING STAMP WITH PLIER ACTION Filed Sept. 6, 1963 United States Patent O 3,244,097 SELF-INKING STAMP WITH FUER ACTION Ross C. McRae, Mundelein, and Robert F. Tansey,

Palatine, Ill., assignors to Consolidated Stamp Manufacturing Co., Inc., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Sept. 6, 1963. Ser. No 307,103 7 Claims. (Cl. IGI- 334) This invention relates in general to marking apparatus, and more particularly to an improved hand operated stamping device.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hand operative stamping device which is light in weight and easy to manipulate so as not to tire the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfinking stamping device wherein the printing means are easily accessible for adjustment purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a self-inking stamping device having a tumbler which is operative between an inking position and a stamping position with means for positively locating the tumbler in the stamping position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a self-inking stamping device with improved means for releasing the printing means from its support so that the printing means are readily accessible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a self-inking stamping device as described above with improved means for holding the article to be stamped.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a self-inking stamping device as described above which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation, well adapted for its intended purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from an examination of the following description, taken in connection with the annexed drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a stamping device embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken substantially as illustrated along line 4 4 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is a View taken substantially as indicated along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, theer is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail one speciiic embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplitication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of the stamping device includes a generally U-shaped frame 11 having spaced sides 12 and 13 and a bight portion 14v extending transversely therebetween. The sides of bight portion 14 are bent over as at 15 and 16 to provide a downwardly open channel (FIGURE 5) for reception of a suitable ink pad 17. Sides 12 and 13 include spaced generally vertically extending slots 17 and 18,

Patented Apr. 5, 1966 and 19 and 2), respectively. Rods 21 and 22 span the lower ends of sides 12 and 13, to add rigidity to the structure, with the rods 21 and 22 being secured to the sides 12 and 13 in any suitable fashion, as by riveting or the like. Sides 12 and 13 are further provided with a generally centrally disposed slot 23 and 24, respectively, with the slots having aligned generally vertically extending upper and lower portions 23a, 24a, and aligned angularly disposed mid-portions 23b, 24h.

Stamping device 1li further includes a first handle, indicated generally at 30, and having a gripping portion 31 extending generally upwardly and outwardly from frame 11. Handle 30 also includes a generally L-shaped portion 32 having a vertically extending member 33 that can be formed integrally with gripping portion 31, or formed separately therefrom and secured thereto in a suitable manner as by riveting. L-shaped portion 32 further includes a forwardly extending leg 34, which defines a shelf portion upon which frame 11 is seated. As can be best seen in FIGURE 4, handle portion 33 is generally U-shaped in cross section, with sides 35 and 36 extending generally transversely with respect to a central bight portion 37. Handle portion 33 includes, adjacent its central section, rearwardly extending ears 38 and 39 having aligned openings, the purpose of which will hereinafter become more fully apparent.

As can be best seen in FIGURE 3, shelf portion 34 is generally U-shaped in front elevation with a generally rectangular bight portion 4i), and with sides 41 and 42 extending upwardly from opposed edges of the bight portion 4i?. This upwardly open channel having a forwardly open end is formed, which is adapted to receive therein the material to be marked by the stamping device. A stop member 43, which is generally rectangular in cross section, is positioned in the channel formed by shelf portion 34, and serves as an abutment for the card or article to be stamped, and stop 43 provides an adjustable rear wall in shelf portion 34 and properly positions the article to be stamped relative to the printing means to be hereafter described. Means are provided for adjusting stop 43 along shelf 34 so that the stamping device is capable of accommodating articles to be stamped of different sizes, and include a longitudinally extending slot 44 in bight portion 40. A screw 45 passes through slot 44 and engages a suitably threaded hole in stop 43 to secure stop 43 in the adjusted position.

Means are provided for releasably securing frame 11 to shelf 34, and include a plate 47 extending across shelf 34 and secured to the upper portion of sides 41 and 42. Plate 47 includes a central opening 46 through which the printing means to be hereafter described projects to engage the article seated on shelf portion 34. The forward portion of plate 47 is provided with a centrally disposed upwardly directed hook 49 that is releasably engageable with transverse rod 21. The rearward end of plate 47 is provided with a pair of spaced upwardly directed hooks 48 which releasably engage transverse rod 22. Hooks 48 and 49 are yieldable so that frame 11 can be disconnected from shelf portion 34 by pulling upward on frame 11 and downward on shelf 34. However, it should be noted that hooks 48 and 49 grip rods 21 and 22 with su'icient force to prevent accidental displacement of frame11 during the stamping operation.

Stamping device 10 further includes a second handle 50 which extends generally downwardly and rearwardly from frame .11. Handle 50 includes a gripping portion 51 which is generally U-shaped in cross section and consists of spaced sides 52 and 53 joined by a central portion 54.` Sides S2 4and 53 are provided with suitable apertures that are aligned with the apertures in ears 38 and 39 with a pivot pin 55 impaling each of the aligned apertures. A suitable spring is positioned around pivot pin 55 and includes end portions 56 and 57 that bear against handle portions 37 and 54, respectively, to urge the handles into the full line inlring position illustrated in FG- URE 1.

As is best seen in FGURE 2, the forward end of handle 5t) is substantially Y-shaped, with angularly disposed -arms 5S and 59 terminating in forwardly directed parallel arms 60 and 61 which embrace the sides 12 and 13, respectively, of frame i1. The end portions of arms 6i? and 61 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 62 and 63, respectively. A transversely extending pin 64 extends outwardly through slots 23 and 243 and impales slots 62 and 63 with suitable Washers 65 and 66 being provided to retain the ends of pin 64. A suitable printing devi in the form of a tumbler 70 is carried by a pair of spaced arms 67 and 63, -that are scoured to transverse pin 64. Printing device 7@ is of the well known type having a plurality of individually adjustable bands 71, each having a plural-ity of characters thereon. Such printing devices are vconventionally pivotally and reciprocally mounted for tumbling action, as by the eng-agement of pins 67a and 68a with slots in arms 67 and 68, respectively. Such printing devices are conventionally p'ivotally and reciprocally mounted for tumbling action as by the engagement of pins 67a and 68a with slots in arms 67 and 68, respectively. Such slots extend substantially from end to end of arms 67 and 68, and the slot in arm 67 is clearly visible in FIGURE 1. The action of the aforedescribed tumbler is believed to be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and will hereinafter be described in detail.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that a generally transversely extending arm 72 is secured to the bight portion 54 or arm dit. Arm 72 is engageable with the bight portion 37 of arm 36 when handle 50 moves about pivot S5 to locate the tumbler in the printing position. When the tumbler is in the inking position shown in FGURE 1, `the rod 64 is disposed adjacent the right or inner end yof slots 62 and 63. As handle 50 is pivoted about pin 55, arms 60 and 61 initially force transverse rod 64 downwardly along the upper vertical portions 23a and 24a of grooves 23 and 24. Since the upper vertical groove portions 23a and 24a are relatively short in length, the tumbler 7@ carried by the rod 64 will move vertically downward only a correspondingly small amount. As rod 64 begins to ride over the upper inclined cam portions 23h and 24h, it moves youtwardly in slots 62 and 63, respectively, o-f arms 6i) and 61, and also moves outwardly relative to pins 67a and 68a. The distance between pins 67a and 68a, and rod 64 is, in effect, a lever arm through which the arms 60 and 61, bearing on rod 64, pivot the tumbler 70 about pins 67a and 68a. When the rod 64 reaches the -apex of inclined. por-tions 23h and 24h, the rod 6dy is disposed adjacent the outer or left end of slots 62 and 63 as viewed in FIGURE 1. As rod 64 moves over the apex of inclined portions 23b and Zdb and down to thel lower vertical groove port-ions 23a and 24a, the rod 64 moves inwardly or to the right as viewed in FGURE 1, and the printing device '70' pivots approximately 180 degrees from the inking position shown in FIGURE 1 -to a position immediately `above the stamping position. As the rod 64 rides down the lower vertical groove portions 23a and 24a, the tumbler moves downwardly into the stamping position with the appropriate characters in enga-gement with the article to be stamped that is as positioned on shelf 34. Arm 72 has Ian appropriate length so that the printing device 70 will engage the article to be marked with the proper amount of force, thereby preventing smearing of the ink and awarding the application of an undue load to the structure. Thus, the `slots 62 and 63 define lost motion means connecting the arm 5@ with the tumbler 70 and enabling the tumbler to move between the Sinking and stamping positions. Since the spring ends 56 and 57 urge the handles 30 and Sil apart, the yrod 64v will be urged toward the upper end of slots 23 and 24 so that the selected characters Ion the bands 71 of the printing device will be returned into engagement with pad 17 when the handles are released. When it is desired to change the characters o-n printing device '70, it is necessary merely to pivot shelf 34 away from frame lill `around pivot 55, and the means for changing the lbands 7l will then ibe readily accessible. Pivotal movement of shelf 34 may be accomplished by grasping the upper portion of frame 1i with one hand and grasping shelf 34 with the other hand, and then twisting in opposite directions to free rods 21 and 22 from hooks 4E and 49 and pivot frame lil about rod 64. To replace frame r11 in the proper position, -rod 22 is positioned under hooks 4S, and a downward force is then applied to frame 1i to force rod 21 under hook 49 with a snap act-ion.

We claim:

i. A self-inking stamping device comprising: a frame; an ink pad on said frame; a tumbler with printing means thereon; means mounting said tumbler for pivotal and reciprocal movement relative to said frame between an inking and a stamping position and including a cam slot in said frame and cani slot follower means on said tumbler, `said cam slot having an oifset portion for pivoting said tumbler as said cam slot'follower means moves therealong; a iirst handle having an upright intermediate portion, a shelf portion extending forwardly from the lower end of said intermediate portion, and a manually engageable gripping portion extending rearwardly from the upper end of said intermediate portion; means on said shelf portion for retaining said frame thereon; further means on said shelf portion forming a shallow article receiving channel and defining the stamping position for said tumbler; a second handle having an intermediate portion pivotally mounted between the upper and lower ends of the intermediate portion of said first handle, said second handle having a manually engageable gripping portion extending rearwardly from the second Ihandle intermediate portion, said second handle further having a pair of spaced forwardly extending arms embracing opposite sides of said frame, means formed on said spaced arms cooperating with means on said tumbler forming a lost motion connection therebetween to guide the tumbler in its movement relative to said spaced arms as said cam slot follower means moves along said slot when said iirst and second handle gripping portions are moved toward each other; and spring means urging said tumber toward inking position.

2. A self-inking stamping device comprising: a frame; an ink pad on said frame; a tumbler with printing means thereon; means mounting said tumbler for pivotal and reciprocal movement relative to said frame between an inking and a stamping position, and including a cam slot in said frame and cam slot follower means on said tumbler, said cam slot having an offset portion for pivoting said tumbler as said cam slot follower means moves therealong; a iirst handle including a shelf portion having means thereon forming a shallow article receiving channel and defining the stamping position for said tumbler; means on said shelf portion for retaining said frame; a second handle pivotally mounted on said first handle and engaging said tumbler for actuation thereof, means formed on said second handle cooperating with means on said tumbler forming a lost motion connection therebetween to guide the tumbler in its movement relative to said second handle as said cam slot follower means moves along said slot when said second handle is moved relative to said first handle; and spring means urging said tumbler toward inking position.

3. A self-inking stamping devices as dened in claim 2 wherein the means on said second handle cooperating with the means on said tumbler includes a longitudinally extending slot lin said second handle.

4. A stamping device as dened in claim 2 wherein said tumbler is pivotally mounted on said second handle, and the retaining means on said shelf portion are releasable to free said tumbler for pivotal mo-vement relative to said second handle.

5. A `stamping device as deined in claim 2 wherein said means defining an article receiving channel includes a bottom surface with side Walls and an end wall eX- tending upwardly therefrom.

6. A stamping,7 device as dened in claim 5 wherein means are provided for adjusting the location of said end Wall yin said channel.

7. A stamping device as dened in claim 2 wherein a stop member is provided on one of said handles and is engageable with the other of said handles to locate said tumber in the stamping position when said second handle is pivoted relative to said rst handle.

Fish 10l-104 C-ameron 101--26 Hill 101-407 Doyle 1011-407 Leo 101-3 Baber 1011-3 X Baumgarten 1011-103 Garvey lOl-103 X Marshall 10i-407 Great Britain.

WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SELF-INKING STAMPING DEVICE COMPRISING: A FRAME; AN INK PAD ON SAID FRAME; A TUMBLER WITH PRINTING MEANS THEREON; MEANS MOUNTING SAID TUMBLER FOR PIVOTAL AND RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME BETWEEN AN INKING AND A STAMPING POSITION AND INCLUDING A CAM SLOT IN SAID FRAME AND CAM SLOT FOLLOWER MEANS ON SAID TUMBLER, SAID CAM SLOT HAVING AN OFFSET PORTION FOR PIVOTING SAID TUMBLER AS SAID CAM SLOT FOLLOWER MEANS MOVES THEREALONG; A FIRST HANDLE HAVING AN UPRIGHT INTERMEDIATE PORTION, A SELF PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION, AND A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE GRIPPING PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION; MEANS ON SAID SHELF PORTION FOR RETAINING SAID FRAME THEREON; FURTHER MEANS ON SAID SELF PORTION FORMING A SHALLOW ARTICLE RECEIVING CHANNEL AND DEFINING THE STAMPING POSITION FOR SAID TUMBLER; A SECOND HANDLE HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID FIRST HANDLE, SAID SECOND HANDLE HAVING A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE GRIPPING PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE SECOND HANDLE INTERMEDIATE PORTION, SAID SECOND HANDLE FURTHER HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED FORWARDLY EXTENDING ARMS EMBRACING OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAME, MEANS FORMED ON SAID SPACED ARMS COOPERATING WITH MEANS ON SAID TUMBLER FORMING A LOST MOTION CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN TO GUIDE THE TUMBLER IN ITS MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SPACED ARMS AS SAID CAM SLOT FOLLOWER MEANS MOVES ALONG SAID SLOT WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HANDLE GRIPPING PORTIONS ARE MOVED TOWARD EACH OTHER; AND SPRING MEANS URGING SAID TUMBER TOWARD INKING POSITION. 